FUUSE is served by a dedicated staff team led by our minister, Rev. Ariel Aaronson-Eves, as well as by volunteer leaders, committees and teams, whose participation FUUSE depends on. For information on our volunteer leaders, see Our Board, Committees, and Teams.

Reverend Ariel Aaronson-Eves
Minister

Rev. Ariel Aaronson-Eves is a lifelong UU who has spent the past twenty years following the call of the land and spirit around the country and beyond. A graduate of Carleton College and of Starr King School of Ministry, they come to us from the UU Congregation of Franklin New Hampshire, where they served as the part-time Consulting Minister since 2021. In addition to their ministerial work, Rev. Ariel also served as Network Coordinator of the NH Queer Farmer Network. They note: “My work as a farmer introduced me to the divine in beautiful and magical ways. I see the sacred woven through everything, but am especially present to it in the growth of plants. This knowing of ‘God,’ this agrarian theology, is grounded in my firsthand, embodied experiences on the land.”

Rev. Ariel is passionate about social justice, and attending political visibility events at the State House, “has been an important part of my social justice witness.”

Actively involved with the UUA, Rev. Ariel currently serves on the executive team for the Northern New England Chapter of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Associations, as well as on the UUA’s Bylaws Renewal Team.

Rev. Ariel enjoys hiking, skiing, biking, cooking and gardening, and spending time with their 9-year old dog. Raised in New Jersey, they have a large extended family based in northern New England, Washington state and Florida. They explore their familial Jewish roots through an online community.

Rebecca Figueroa Winter
Director of Religious Education

Rebecca Figueroa Winter is a life-long UU and career educator with a dual B.S./M.Ed. from Lesley University in Elementary Education. She has been a classroom teacher for grades 3-8 in addition to serving a number of teacher-leadership roles. She currently develops K-12 curriculum and professional development workshops for districts across the country.

Rebecca’s work is based on the fundamental idea that education is liberation. Using extensive training in inquiry and project-based learning as well as multiple social-emotional learning approaches, Rebecca creates environments and experiences that support and empower all children. Her recognitions include the Unsung Hero Award from the New Hampshire Children’s Trust and a Mayoral Proclamation from the City of Cambridge for her innovative educational project

Outside of education, Rebecca devotes time to supporting childhood cancer survivors and encouraging people to vote through postcard campaigns. She enjoys cross-stitch, crosswords, and jigsaw puzzles in her spare time between work and spending time with her family.

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Jimmy Dority
Director of Music

Jimmy Dority is based in Portland, Maine. Since studying Composition at University of Southern Maine, Jimmy’s musical expression has taken a wide variety of forms. He’s filled the role of music director for several shows (The Threepenny Opera, Afterthought) as well as added his guitar skills in the pit orchestra at Maine State Music Theatre (9 to 5, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and other local productions. Recently he contributed the score to the film, Nice People, which went on to be featured in this year’s Maine International Film Festival. Jimmy also writes and records his own music, as well as playing baritone guitar in Portland-based indie-rock band, Modern Friendship. While he got his start on guitar, he’s comfortable on a plethora of instruments including piano, banjo, accordion, and others. He teaches guitar, piano, and songwriting at Maine Academy of Modern Music.

Jimmy has many passions alongside music. Since the lockdown he’s been an avid oil painter, producing portraits and landscapes (John Singer-Sargent is his favorite painter). He recently dipped his toes in the world of acting when he was cast in two roles for 2024’s Maine Playwrights Festival, featuring six short plays by Maine-based writers. He also has a deep fondness for the natural world, having spent his early adulthood traveling while working on farms. His love for spiritual wisdom has been a source of joy and comfort. Jimmy engages in meditation and mindfulness practices and takes guidance from the writings of Thomas Merton, Thich Nhat Hanh, and the teachings of Christ.

Nancy Grenier
Office Administrator 603-772-4002; office@exeteruu.org

A native of New England, Nancy joined the FUUSE team in February 2020. An alumna of Assumption College, Nancy brings extensive experience in organizational operations and administration to her work at FUUSE. Before joining FUUSE, she spent many years as the executive assistant to the principal of a large public high school in the Chicago suburbs. She lives with her husband John and their two Siamese cats in East Kingston, New Hampshire. In her free time, Nancy loves walking, hiking, and gardening, especially if these activities include her grandson Will.